So, my place (Hartneady's store) wasn't a
shop when you first came here? (mid 1960's)Sally: No. It wasn't. Just Towamba store. Towamba
store was wonderful. Beautiful big wooden
counters and wooden floor and everything
hanging from the ceiling...hobble chains
and horse shoes and buckets and mops and
brooms and bridles...everything you could
imagine hanging from the ceiling. The post
office was that little room off the end of
the veranda and the telephone exchange. We
had a phone on the wall (at home) where you
wound a handle to make the bell ring in the
exchange and then you'd have to ask for the
number you wanted and she would get the number
for you and put you through. Then she'd say
"Three minutes, are you extending?"
It used to be a trunk call, anything from
here (Pericoe) would be a trunk call, sometimes
she'd be kind and let you have a little extra
time. Nene Egan had an exchange at Pericoe.
Mary Mitchell had one at Lower Towamba.***Excerpt from the interview with Sally Mirams
in 'The Forgotten Corner Interviews'.

"You'd put on a clean apron and go a
bit early to have a chat before the mail
arrived," said Phyllis South."You could get anything from a needle
to an anchor there," says Harold Farrell.The general store would set a small room
or area of the shop counter aside for receiving
and attending to mail business. Local residents
would gather outside on the veranda waiting
for the mail car and in later years, the
school bus. It was one of the main gathering
areas in the small village of Towamba.

Towamba store cut off in flood time
from residents on the south bank of
the river.
Photo K. Clery

Spelling as written in the newspapers

TELEGRAPH OFFICES OPENED

Bega: October 26, 1868Bombala: May 15, 1867Candelo: 1875Cooma: October 7, 1865Delegate: October 16, 1882. (was established)Pambula: September 4, 1880. Edward J.Cornell was
station master.Eden-Bombala line: June 6, 1868. (cost of construction was
£,201/11/2)Merimbula-Eden line: November 1, 1868. (line of 4 miles opened
at Merimbula. Cost was £173/1/0) Pericoe: No date available.George Arnold, Manager.Rockton: No date availableRocky Hall: No date availableTowamba: No date availableWolumla: This office was opened before the office
at Wyndham since Wolumla's revenue is mentioned
in discussions on the viability of the Wyndham
line.Wyndham: November 12, 1889

House built early in 1871, probably Lower
Towamba's first Post Office
(if not Towamba's first Post Office).
Possibly John Mitchell and family as
the
Mitchell family still owned the property
in the 1960s and it was still in use
as a
Post Office. (see below)

October 28, 1876'The Bega Standard and Candelo, Merimbula,
Pambula, Eden, Wolumla, and General Advertiser'
* The Government advertize a long list of
mail contracts accepted. - In the Southern
Roads division we find Eden and Towamba accepted
at £25 per annum, Michael Corcoran contractor.

Excerpt from the 'OFFICIAL POST OFFICE DIRECTORY'
1878Towamba - 298 miles south of Sydney, in the
Eden district. Mails close at G.P.O., Sydney,
as steamers depart, and leave for Sydney,
Thursdays, 8.30 a.m.

'The Bega Gazette and Eden District or Southern
Coast Advertiser'
8 November 1882* Eden -and Towamba, once a week, Donald
Laing, 3 years at £20.

'The Bega Gazette and Eden District or Southern
Coast Advertiser'
25 April 1883Rocky Hall.-From Bombala Times we clip that the first
meeting of the Rocky Hall Progress Committee
was held on Saturday last. Mr. T. Collins
was elected chairman. These motions were
carried:-"That the Hon the Minister
for Works be respectfully requested to cause
immediate action to be taken re the erection
of the bridge across the Towamba River at
New Building." "That the Secretary
be instructed to write to Messrs Garvan and
Clarke, asking them to urge upon the Minister
for Works to clear and form the road between
Candelo and Wyndham." The next business
discussed was a mail service between Candelo
and Towamba, and it was agreed to petition
the Postmaster-General, praying that such
a service might be established, the same
to leave Towamba on Thursdays, meeting the
Manaro mail at Wyndham, and returning on
Fridays from Candelo in time to catch the
up Manaro mail. The writer reports feed fairly
plentiful and dairying prospects cheering.
He thinks the day is not far distant when
Rocky Hall will take its place as an important
dairying district, judging at least by the
number of selections that have been recently
taken up.

May 23, 1883
'The Bega Standard and Candelo, Merimbula,
Pambula, Eden, Wolumla, and General Advertiser'
* Towamba Mails. - Some months ago we referred
to the want of a second mail to Towamba,
and a memorial immediately followed asking
for the boon. We are glad to be able to report
that the request was granted, and that the
new arrangement comes into operation this
week. The mails leave Towamba on Mondays
and Thursdays, at 11 a.m., arriving at Eden
at half-past 2, and are despatched again
at half-past 5 the same evenings.

January 19, 1884 'The Bega Standard and Candelo, Merimbula,
Pambula, Eden, Wolumla, and General Advertiser' MONEY ORDER OFFICE WANTED.-
* The Towamba folks are about to petition
the postal authorities to establish a money
order office at that place. Much difficulty
is experienced in remitting small sums, there
being no money order office nearer than Eden,
and the nearest bank is at Panbula. It is
said that the extent of business now transacted
at Towamba warrants the establishment of
such an office. The outlay will not be great
for the Government to undertake, and a certain
revenue is assured so soon as the office
is established. The request seems a reasonable
one, and it will doubtless be favorably entertained.

July 3, 1889
'The Sydney Morning Herald' * POST-OFFICE.-A post-office will be established at Pericoe,
near Towamba.

'Pambula Voice' July 7, 1893BURRAGATE * I am informed that a receiving office has
been granted here. It is to be in charge
of Mr. Samuel Shipway who has been a resident
for some time. This will supply a long felt
want and be a great convenience to residents.
* Mr. Shipway has now started a general store
and saves the public many a mile for formerly
the nearest stores were Wyndham and Towamba
being upwards of seven miles away.

March 29, 1895
Pericoe & Wog Wog
Mr. Editor - I write to let you know that
Pericoe and Wog Wog are still in existence.
The latter is about 15 miles in a south-westerly
direction from Towamba, with Pericoe situated
midway between the two places. Messrs. John
Ramsey and W. Moorehead own large areas of
land in the locality of Wog Wog utilised
for dairying purposes.....
It is considered by many that Wog Wog is
a second Towamba, only the former is more
heavily timbered and costs more to clear.
A mail travels once a week from Pericoe to
Wog Wog, Mr. William Ryan being postmaster
at the former place, while Mrs. Sawers is
in charge of a receiving office at the latter,
which is a great boon to the surrounding
settlers.

March 1, 1896
Wyndham
* The telephone line from Wyndham to Rocky
Hall is being speedily pushed on, and when
completed must prove a great boon to the
residents of the latter place.

'Pambula Voice' January 14, 1898
ROCKY HALL
At a meeting held here last Saturday night
it was proposed to make a presentation to
Mr. P. Crotty, late mail contractor. Mr.
L. Goldberg presided and a substantial amount
has been collected. Of the many drivers on
this route none was more obliging or more
courteous than the genial Pat.

December 1, 1899
'The Sydney Morning Herald'
EDEN
An additional mail per week is to be run
between Towamba and Eden after December 1.

'Pambula Voice' March 16, 1900
EDEN ITEMS* On and after the 15th instant Eden is to
be favoured with a through mail bag from
Sydney.* The postal authorities have signified their
willingness to establish a telephone office
at Kiah on certain conditions relating to
guarantee etc., which are being considered
by the residents of the river district. It
is hoped that ere long an arrangement will
be made for the establishment of direct telephonic
communication between Kiah and Eden.

'Pambula Voice' March 23, 1900
* A telegraph office is about to be established
at Burragate, connecting the latter with
both Towamba and Wyndham.

January 31, 1902
Wyndham
* The mail from Pericoe to Nungatta, which
has been run by Mr. J. A. Love, sen., for
about ten years, is now run by Mr. J. M.
Ryan via Wog Wog from Pericoe, instead of
direct to Nungatta as heretofore.

August 29, 1902
* Wyndham....... Progress Committee... it
was resolved to ask that Mr. Edwards, Post
Master, be appointed Deputy Registrar of
Births, Deaths and Marriages at Wyndham,
owing to the inconvenience caused through
the present Register Office being at Eden
- 28 miles distant.

October 17, 1902
Wyndham
* A few business changes have taken place
lately. C.J. Tiy War of Bega has commenced
business in the storekeeping line here. Mr.
Poole has closed his blacksmith business
and taken over that of Messrs. Watson and
Jamieson, the latter retiring Mr. R. Woollett
has again stocked his establishment with
fruit and hop beer, and trade in general
is fair.

Monday 22 December 1902
'The Sydney Morning Herald'
TOWAMBA
* The Yambulla mail coach from Eden on Wednesday
was carried off the crossing at Nullica Creek.
A quantity of provisions was lost. The mails
were saved with difficulty. The Towamba River
was not crossable yesterday.

Wyndham* Mr. Wm. Collins has started in the butchering
line, in the premises lately occupied by
Mr. McDonald.

May 15, 1903
'Bombala Times and Manaro and Coast Districts
General Advertiser'Official Correspondence. -
Mr. Aus tin Chapman M.H.R is in receipt of
the following from the Deputy Postmaster
General, and has made further representations
concerning same : - ' With reference to my
letter of the 28th ultimo, acknowledging
the receipt of yours of the 24th idem, further
respecting the delivery of correspondence
addressed to Messrs. Watson, Hunt, and Love,
residents near Pericoe, I have the honor
to intimate that, as already explained, the
regulations, which are in operation throughout
the Commonwealth, require that when a private
mail bag is made up for any per son the service
must be paid for. From enquiries made it
would seem that the discontinuance of bags
for the three residents mentioned has not
been stopped, their mail being forwarded,
has apparently been represented to you, but
it is sent loose by the Pericoe, Muskgrove,
and Nangutta mailman for either roadside
de livery or to be placed in boxes. No hard
ship has been inflicted, they can jointly
subscribe for a private mailbag to be ad
dressed to any one of their number, or if
they do not care to pay for accommodation
their correspondence can be delivered as
at present. All over the country, persons
living off mail routes provide boxes at the
roadside for their mail matter, and in many
cases letters of an important character are
placed in such boxes.'

'Pambula Voice' January 29, 1904*Attention is directed to the advertisement
in another column intimating that Mr. S.
Goldberg has opened a branch store at Towamba.

Wednesday 24 February, 1904
'The Sydney Morning Herald'
SOUTH COAST
EDEN
* In consequence of representations from
the Eden Progress Association, the Postmaster
General has decided to institute a direct
mail service between Bombala and Eden three
times a week, and a letter-receiving office
is to be established at Lower Towamba.

April 1, 1904
Wyndham* Mr. Adam Twyford, formerly in the employ
of Mr. W. Collins, has opened a shop on his
own account and is doing fair business.
May 27, 1904
Wyndham* The Whipstick Post Office has been removed
from Mr. Crawley's to Whipstick proper. This
will be a great convenience for the Whipstick
and Jingera residents. Mrs. John Robinson
is the new Post Mistress.
June 10, 1904* Mr. S. Goldberg, store keeper of Wyndham,
who has for many years conducted a branch
of his business at Rocky Hall, notifies that
he has disposed of the latter to Mr. G. W.
Beare. Mr. Goldberg has also sold his interest
in the Towamba business to Mr. J. Kelly.

November 11, 1904
Wyndham* Mr. A.L. Twyford has sold out his butchering
business to Mrs. W. Collins who has the whole
butchering trade here now. Mr. Twyford has
an idea of starting a bakering business.

'Pambula Voice' January 6, 1905FIRE AT TOWAMBA
The district coroner (Mr. J. H. Martin) secured
information of Tuesday night that the general
store and contents owned by Mr. P. McCloy
of Towamba, were totally destroyed by fire
on the previous night. We believe that the
verdict was the accidental upsetting of a
kerosene lamp. It is estimated that the loss
amounts to about £800, which is partly
covered by insurance.
February 9, 1905
'The Sydney Morning Herald'
TOWAMBA
* The Postmaster General is now calling for
tenders for the erection of a telephone from
Towamba to Yambulla, via Pericoe. The distance
is estimated at 14 miles. The wire is to
be run on trees where they are available.
This line will be a boon to the district,
as all correspondence and traffic between
Wangrabelle and Eden passes through Yambulla.

'Pambula Voice' April 7, 1905TOWAMBA
On Monday 24 instant, Mr. Robinovitz's store
under the management of Mr. McCloy was totally
destroyed by fire. The buildings belonged
to Mr McCloy and we are given to understand
were insured, but the goods were not. Mrs
McCloy was in the act of lighting up for
the evening and accidentally let the lamp
fall. The oil caught fire and spread so rapidly
that in 15 minutes the whole building from
end to end was a mass of flames.
'Pambula Voice' July 21, 1905TOWAMBA
I hear that Mr Jas Kelly, storekeeper, is
likely to sell out his business to Mr Cunnington
and remove to other fields of action.
'Pambula Voice' August 25, 1905TOWAMBA
Mr Kelly has disposed of his store business
at Towamba to Mr Arthur Cunnington of Wyndham.
Mr Kelly is bound for Adaminiby.'Pambula Voice' September 8, 1905
Mr J. Kelly has sold his business to Mr A.
Cunnington, late of Mr S. Goldberg's, Wyndham,
and I believe he has taken charge of his
new venture.'Pambula Voice' December 1, 1905
WYNDHAM
Our new storekeeper (Mr Cunnington) is kept
very busy and is becoming very popular. We
believe he will make a success of his venture.'Pambula Voice' March 2, 1906
TOWAMBA
Another building is going up in the township
for Mr A. Parker.'The Argus'
14 June 1906RIDING FATALITIES.
* A young man named Beattie was conveying
mails from Nangutta to Towamba, when his
horse fell and rolled over him. He sustained
injuries which resulted in his death.

'Pambula Voice' August 9, 1907
TOWAMBA
Mr. Martin is pushing on with his work of
building his new store. Mr. Martin is 86
years old. 'Pambula Voice' May 15, 1908
Mr. Wm. Laing of Towamba is very ill, his
trouble being epilepsy. He is a very old
resident of our village.

'The Southern Record and Advertiser'
3 December 1910Federal Correspondence.
We are in receipt of the following copies
of Departmental correspondence directed to
Mr. Austin Chapman, M.H.R. : - Sir, - With
reference to my communication, of the 19th
August last, advising you of the receipt
of petition submitted by the then Chief Secretary
(Hon. W. H. Wood, M.L.A.) from Messrs. D.
Binnie, J.P., A. A. Young, and S. Goldberg,
and other residents of Wyndham, Towamba and
Burragate for Monday's return trip from Towamba
of the Wyndham Burragate Towamba mail service
to be altered to Sunday I have the honor
to intimate that the proposed alteration
has been given a trial but inquiry shows
that Burragate residents are indifferent
as to whether Sunday or Monday is observed
and the matter does not materially effect
Wyndham. The residents of Towamba, however,
desires reversion to the original time-table.
It appears that when mails left on Mondays
the number of letters despatched from Towamba
averaged about 35 whereas it has fallen to
about 10 since the Sunday trip has been observed.
It has, therefore, been decided to revert
to the former time-table as regards the trip
referred to i.e. leave Towamba Monday 7 a.m.
arrive Burragate 9.10 a.m. arrive Wyndham
10.25 a.m. - Yours, etc., E. J. Young, Deputy
Postmaster General.

'Pambula Voice' April 21, 1911
* Our postmistress has resigned her position,
and Mr. G. Martin, jnr., has taken on the
job. The young lady, Miss J. Cunnington,
is moving to North Narribri. We trust we
may be allowed to - well, wish her bon voyage,
and every happiness in the near future.
'Pambula Voice' August 4, 1911Mr. John Hartneady has opened a branch store
at Yambulla, and is, we are informed, doing
good business. So, you see, our Towamba tradesmen
have some push in them.

'Pambula Voice' September 26, 1913
TOWAMBA
Mr. G. Martin Jnr., is building a new hotel
(15 rooms) opposite to Mr. A. Robinson's
store. Work is to commence on 1 Oct.'Pambula Voice' October 31, 1913TOWAMBA
Mr. W. Arnold, for some years assistant manager
for Mr A. Robinson, storekeeper, much to
the regret of the public, has gone to Sydney…

'Pambula Voice' July 10, 1914TOWAMBAMr. John Hartneady has decided to close his
store at Yambulla, and is having it pulled
down and going to rebuild the store and billiard
room in Towamba

Hartneady's old store and billiard room on
the
south side of the river. Sections of
this
building
were moved from Yambulla to Towamba
after
the gold fields closed. This was still
operating
as a
General Store in Towamba until the
1940's.
Now private residence. Photo K.Clery

January 6, 1915
'The Bega Budget'
* Mr. Geo. Strickland has secured the mail
contract from Eden to Yambulla, via Towamba
and Pericoe, and commenced his duties on
Friday.

November 24, 1932 'Delegate Argus'
*
Mr. Donald Laing, a pioneer of the Pambula
district, died on Sunday of last week in
the Pambula Hospital, at the age of 82 years.
At the age of 21 years he took up mail contracting,
his first route being Eden to Towamba, when
there was only a bridle track over Towamba
mountain. Later he had the contract from
Pambula to Merimbula, and later the Pambula-Nethercote
mail. He continued this till the end of 1931,
thus completing 61 years of continuous mail
contracting service.

'Magnet' November 3, 1934
* The new contract for the Eden-Towamba-Pericoe
mail service for the next five years has
been secured by Mr. Arthur Love, Towamba.

Magnet' November 17, 1934PERICOE JOTTINGS* Mr. Arthur Love, successful tenderer for
the Eden-Towamba-Pericoe mail run will commence
duty in the early new year.

'Magnet' December 22, 1934 * Mr. J. T. McLeod, Towamba, desired that
license fees for Barbers shops be reduced
to 5 shillings per annum to be advised that
Council had fixed the fee at 10 shillings
and was indisposed to alter it.

'Magnet' August 3, 1961
KIAH NOW HAS ELECTRICITYAfter years of agitation by Kiah residents
to have electric power extended to the area
they now have their wish granted at last.
The power line which has been under construction
for some months has been energised as far
as the Kiah hall. Some residents have been
connected and are now enjoying the benefits
of the power for which they have fought so
tenaciously.
The date for the celebration of the turning
on of the electricity has been set for August
25th when an outstanding night has been promised.